Register for justifying lines of type



April 1953 B. K. MURCHISON 2,830,763

REGISTER FOR JUSTIFYING LINES OF TYPE Filed Jan. 1'7. 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY 5M April 15, 1958 B. K. MURCHISON REGISTER FOR JUSTIFYING LINES OF TYPE Filed Jan. 17, 1955 FIG. 2

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 l'nvenfor;

BLACKWFLL K. MURCHISON, DECEASED, g; BESSIE 1-7 MURC/l/SON, EXECUTR/X April 1 1 5 B. K. MURCHISON 2,830,763

REGISTER FOR JUST IFYING LINES OF TYPE PiledJaa. 1'7, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 2 In Vii/7 7L0 r; FIG. 3 Buurwm n MUACHISON, DECEASED,

E BESS/E E MURCHI30N,XCUTRIX April 15, 1958 B. K. IMURCHISON 2,830,763

REGISTER FOR JUSTIFYING LINES OF TYPE Filed Jan. 17, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 In van [0%,

filACKWELL l1- MURCH/SOMDfCEASED, FIG. 4 Q-BLSS/E FMURCH/SON, EXECUTE/X BYQEEAW April 15, 1958 B. K. MURCHISON 2,830,763

REGISTER FOR JUSTIFYING LINES OF TYPE Filed Jan. 17. 1955 e Sheets-Sheet 5 InventoR, /2 BZAC/fM/[ZL ff MURC/l/SOA/ DfCEASfQ 5 3/ 5555/5 E AglgRCH/SON, .en cum/x \ag d April 15, 1958 B. K. MURCHISON 2,830,763

REGISTER FOR JUSTIFYING LINES OF TYPE Filed Jan. 17, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I r z verz to/a,

BzAc/rmqz K MURC H/SON 05054 551; By BESSIE MU/EC/l/SON, EXECUTE/X United States Patnt REGISTER FOR JUSTIFYING LINES OF TYPE Blackwell K. Murchison, deceased, late of Brooklyn, N. Y., by Bessie F. Murchison, executrix, Brooklyn,

Application January 17, 1955, Serial No. 482,362

4 Claims. (Cl. 235--92) This invention relates to the art of registers, counters and computers, and particularly concerns a device for use in line justifying and monitoring in a type setting system.

The invention is embodied in an apparatus adapted for use in a type setting system including a typewriter provided with individual electrical contacts connected to its several keys. When a key is depressed a contact is closed which sends an electric pulse to the apparatus. The letter corresponding to each key occupies a predetermined relative space on a set type line. It is desired that the register embodying the invention indicates on a dial the cumulative total of set type spaces as the pulses are received. In the conventional typewriter all letters including punctuation marks occupy equal spaces, but in hand or machine set type, the spaces occupied by the several letter and punctuation marks are not equal. Thus it is necessary to providethat as each typewriter key is depressed, the register dial pointer advance a distance equivalent to the space the corresponding letter or punctuation mark occupies in set type. The spaces occupied by the several letters and punctuation marks vary at one extreme from the width of a capital W to the width of a period at the other extreme. A total of nine predetermined widths or space units will suiiice to encompass the range of spaces encountered in most fonts of type including upper and lower case letters and punctuation marks. Thus if the typist writes W. which occupies two typing spaces, the register embodying the present invention will indicate nine plus one for a total of ten arbitrary type space units.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a direct reading register which will indicate cumulatively the total number of set type space units utilized in a line being typed on a typewriter, where the several set type letters may differ in width from one another.

It is a further object to provide an apparatus useful in justifying in an automatic type setting system wherein linesof copy are typed initially on a typewriter having letters and punctuation marks occupying equal spaces whilethe set type letters may differ in width from one another.

It is a further object to provide a register for indicating cumulatively the number of set type space units utilized in a typed line, the register being electrically connected to a typewriter.

It is a further object to provide a device for monitoring a line being typed on a typewriter and indicating both numerically and geometrically as part of a circular scale the number of set type spaces which will be occupied by the letters, spaces and punctuation marks typed on the typewritten line.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1' is a front elevationalview of an apparatus embodying the invention.

, around the scale.

. 2,830,763 Ce Patented Apr- Fig. 2 is a central sectional view taken on lines 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a left side view of the apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on lines 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of an electrical spacer circuit employed in the apparatus.

Fig. 7 shows in side elevation a modified form of shaft rotating mechanism usable in the apparatus.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings is shown a frame including upright members 10, 11. These members are attached to a base plate 12. Members 10, 11 supports a dial plate 13 which has inscribed thereon a circular scale 14 divided into equally spaced divisions by consecutively numbered radial markings 16. A pointer 17 is mounted for rotation A group of five scale divisions 15 in the upper left quadrant of the scale are colored and numbered consecutively in decreasing numerical order as well as in increasing numerical order.

In Fig. 2 are shown brackets 19 which support the plate 13 on the frame members. The pointer is held on shaft 18 by a screw 20. Shaft 18 is journaled in frame member and is rotatable by a coiled spring 26 to be described later.

A wheel 31 having spokes 32 and a hub 33 shown best in Figs. 2 and 5 is carried on shaft 18 for rotation with the shaft and pointer 17. A reset lever 34 is pivoted on plate 25. In one position the lever permits free rotation of the wheel 31 and in another position as shown in Fig. 5 it prevents rotation of the wheel. The lever 34 prevents rotation of the wheel when wheel arm is obstructed by the lever 34. A fiber cam lock lever 35 is pivotally mounted on plate 25 and is biased by spring 36 so that it prevents wheel 31 from moving backward, i. e. counter-clockwise. It also prevents backlash and vibration of wheel 31. The wheel carries a multiplicity of radially movable stop elements or stop pins 37. These pins are disposed radially around the entire perimeter of the wheel 31. Each pin has the form of a' small rectangular leaf or blade. The rear edge of each blade has two V-shaped cuts or slots adjacent each other. Slot 28 is the upper one and slot 27 is the lower one on each stop pin 37 as shown in Fig. 2. The stop pins are individually movable upward by thrust bars 38 so that wheel 31 can move with a pin 37 extending radially therefrom. A stationary guide ring 39 having a tapered cutout it] serves to guide an extended pin back into its original position. A retractable stop member is positioned to engage an extended pin 37. This stop member as shown in Fig. 3 is the tip end of a lever 46 biased by a spring 47 and pivoted on pin 49 in plate 25. The stop member 45 projects at right angles from lever 4-5 through window 43 in plate 25 into the path of any extended stop pin 37. i

In Fig. 2 is shown a stop arrest member 102. This member is an arcuate forwardly extending blade urged forward by leaf spring 103. The member 102has an arcuate base 108 as shown in Fig. 3 supported by arms 104 pivotally mounted on a base member 105. The

member 102 projects through an aperture 106 in plate 25. A stationary stop arrest element 107 has an upper blade element becomes lodged in the lower slot 27 of the stop pin.

Attached to each of the nine thrust bars 38 is "an indi vidual lever shown clearly in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. The

levers 50 pivot at one end on the shaft pin 51. Attached to the other end of each lever 50 is a link 52. Thelinks T arev attached to bell cranks 53 which carry pins. en-

3 gaged in slots 55 at the rearward ends of arms 56. Arms 56 are biased downwardly by springs 57 to keep the forward ends of the arms from contacting roller 58. The roller 58 is driven by motor 59 via a drive or transmission means 60. Transmission means 6i includes a belt 61 and pulleys 62, 63 mounted on shafts 64, 65. Shaft 64 is geared to motor 59. A bracket '7 supports the roller for continuous rotation. A plurality of levers 71 are disposed vertically to engage the arms 56. Tr e levers 71 are attached to individual bell crank levers 7'2 at the ends of their forwardly extending arms. Levers 71 and "7?. move against tension in springs 43, 44 respectively. The ends of the upwardly extending arms of the levers 72 are attached respectively to the plungers 73 of relays 74. The relays are attached by brackets '75 to the frame members 10, 11. The relays are connected electrically to electrical assemblies '76 as will be explained later.

A crossbar 89 is disposed over levers 50 near the lower ends of thrust bars 38. Bar 88 as shown in Fig. 3 is connected to an upwardly extending arm 81 to which is attached for support the obliquely disposed arm 82. The upper end of arm 81 is spaced slightly from the inverted T-shaped lever 83. This lever carries a small roller 84 which moves in cam slots 85 of lever 86. To lever 86 is attached a shaft pin 87 on the end of which is secured reset lever 34 by screw 88 shown best in Fig. 5. Lever 83 pivots on pin 123 and has one arm attached to plunger extension arm 124. The plunger 125 of relay 126 is secured to arm 124 to tilt the lever 83 for resetting lever 34 at the beginning of each line to be justified.

Shaft 18 carries a cam assembly 89 arranged to operate movable elements of switch 9h electrically connected to ring bell 92. Mounted on and attached to shaft 18 is the coil spring 26. The coil spring serves to rotate the shaft 18 so that dial pointer 17 moves positively around the dial. The coil spring is wound automatically by motor 96 via a shaft 94. The shaft is coupled by a gear train 95 at its upper end to the spring 93 and at its lower end via gear train 97 to the motor. The cams 98 are disposed to rotate on shaft 18 and contact switches 99, 1% for starting the motor via relay 1&1 to wind up the spring when it becomes unwound, and for stopping the motor when the spring is fully wound. A torque motor may be provided to replace the spring 93 and automatic spring winding mechanism as will be explained later.

In Fig. 6 is shown schematically an electrical spacing circuit essential to the operation of the apparatus. It will be understood that provision is made for nine individual spacing circuits, only one of which is shown completely in the drawing since the other eight spacing circuits are identical. Each circuit may be regarded as including a typewriter key provided with a fixed contact 110 and movable spring contact 111. K and K actuate letters which occupy the same space in a line of set type so their contacts 111 are connected in parallel to the same spacer circuit by conductor 112. The conductor passes through cable 113 to the primary winding 114 of transformer 115 and then back through common conductor 116 to the power source terminal 117. The other power source terminal 118 is connected in parallel to contacts 118 of each key. The secondary winding 12% is in circuit with rectifier 119 and the solenoid of relay 7d. The transformer 115 and rectifier 119 constitute the essential elements of the electrical assembly 76 previously mentioned.

All the keys of the typewriter are wired in nine groups. All keys in each group occupy the same spacing in set type and are wired in nine groups. All keys in each group occupy the same spacing in set type and are wired together in parallel in one spacer circuit. Thus cable 113 carries nine conductors 112 or one conductor for each group, and a common return wire 116. The key K will be connected with other keys of its letter space group to the particular conductor 112 of its spacer circuit. The circuit connections required for supplying power to motors 59and96 and bell 92 are not shown since they will be .4. entirely conventional and are not part of the spacer circuits.

A reset lever control circuit is also provided in the apparatus. The lever 34 is movable via levers 86 and 83, arm 124 and plunger 125 of relay 126 as previously mentioned. The relay 126 as shown in Fig. 6 is in circuit with an electrical assembly 76, conductors 127 and 116. Conductor 127 is connected to spring contact 128 which contacts the fixed terminal contact 129 when the carriage C of the typewriter is moved to the left to start a new line of typing. At its extreme right position a finger element 139 on the carriage causes the closing of contacts 128, 129. Contact 129 is connectal to power supply terminal 113.

The mode of operation of the apparatus will now be explained in the light of the foregoing description of the invention. initially the typist returns the carriage C to the extreme right to begin a line of typing. This causes closing of contacts 128, 129 to energize relay 126. Plunger 125 and arm 124 move upward to tilt lever 83. Roller 84 moves in cam slot 85, permitting lever 86 to move shaft 87 and cause reset lever 34 to move inwardly toward shaft 18. As arm 124 moves up it lifts arm 46 so that stop element 45 clears any stop pin 37 projecting upward. The wheel 31 is now released and rotates under the releasing tension of spring 93 until Wheel arm 30 is stopped by the reset lever 34. At this position of the wheel arm, the pointer 17 is located at zero mark on the dial. The arm 46 is pulled down by spring 47 to restore stop element 45 to its original position in window 48.

The typist may now begin typing a line of copy. When the typist presses down the first key, the corresponding spacer circuit is closed. Then an electrical pulse passes over wire 112, through transformer 115, and rectifier 11.9 to the appropriate relay 74. The plunger 73 is actuated moving bell crank lever 72 and lifting arm 71. The airows in Fig. 2 show the motion of the several mechanical parts. Ann 71 moves arm 56 so that its end bears against the continuously rotating roller 58. Arm 71 is moved backward by the roller tilting bell crank lever 53, raising link 52 and lever 50. Bar is lifted by lever 50 raising arm 81 to tilt lever 83. The roller 84 rolls in the cam slot allowing spring 91 to raise lever 86 which turns shaft 87 and moves lever 34 out of engagement with wheel arm 30, so that the wheel 31 is free to move clockwise. Lever 50 also raises the thrust arm 38 connected to it which pushes the stop pin 37 immediately above it upwardly. The wheel 31 is now free to move only the distance existing between the raised stop pin and the stop element 45. In Fig. 5 a single stop pin 37' is shown in raised position stopped by stop element 45. The thrust bars are located so that one of nine stop pins will be raised depending on the particular spacer circuit which actuates its associated thrust bar 38. The wheel 31 is thus capable of moving one of nine predetermined distances depending on which thrust bar raises a stop pin. If the key pressed had been for a letter occupying the widest spacing such as a capital W, the thrust bar 38 at the extreme right would have been raised and the wheel 31 would rotate a distance equal to nine spaces. At the same time pointer 17 would advance 2. corresponding distance. The next key depressed causes a closing of its corresponding spacer circuit and actuating of its associated relay 74 and thrust bar 38. As the lever 50 moves up it raises bar 80, and arm 81 which lifts the arm 46 momentarily so that the previous stop pin clears the stop element 45. The stop element 45 is at once restored to stopping position by spring 47. As the wheel 31 I0- tates the previous stop pins which have passed the stop element 45 are guided back to their original retracted positions by the tapered cutout 40 in guide 39.

The stop pins 37 which have been lifted by the thrust bars are carried along on the stop arrest member 102 until they are guided back to their original positions on the wheel 31. Initially the stop arrest member 102 projects forwardly through aperture 106 and is lodged in the upper slots 28 of the stop pins 37 disposed above the thrust bars 38. As each stop pin is thrust upward, the stop arrest member 102 is momentarily pushed back against the tension in spring 103 and then moves forward to lodge in lower slot 27 of the stop pin. The fixed stop arrest element 107 cooperates with the guide 39 to restore the stop pin to its original position on the wheel as the stop pin leaves the movable stop arrest member 102.

The typist who is operating the typewriter keys will watch the dial as the pointer 17 rotates. The pointer will indicate cumulatively the number of actual set type spaces as the corresponding letters are typed by the typewriter on a sheet of paper. dial pointer corresponds to one full line of set type. Thus the typist by watching the dial can monitor the number of letters and punctuation marks to type on each line. It will be understood that it is possible to connect electrically to the typewriter keys a type-casting machine which will cast lines of type as they are typed on the typewriter and monitored on the register embodying the present invention. Alternatively the typewriter keys can be electrically connected to a perforator device which will punch holes in a continuous strip of paper, position or size of the holes being representative of the sizes and positions of type to be cast. This perforated strip of paper may then be fed through an automatic control device for a type casting machine which device is responsive to the punched holes in the paper strip. neither the perforating nor type casting machines are part of the present invention and the register can be used independently thereof no further description of these machines is included in this specification.

In operation of the register the bell 92 is caused to ring when the pointer has traversed three quarters of the circular scale and has reached the end of the fifteenth division on the scale. The setting of the bell ringing point is made by proper adjustment of the position of cam 89 on shaft 18 to close switch 90 at the desired position of the pointer. After the bell rings the pointer 17 enters the final quadrant of the scale. This indicates to the operator that the cumulative total of letters, spaces, and punctuation marks in set type equals three-quarters of the set type line and the operator is now alerted for the final quarter of the line. The divisions in this final quarter are colored to be more outstanding to the operator and are numbered in downward order from 5 to 1 to indicate the number of remaining spaces in the set type line at each position of the pointer in this quadrant.

By the apparatus disclosed the operator can monitor a conventional typewriter while it is perforating a coded tape for an automatic typecasting machine or while the typewriter is actually controlling a typecasting machine. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes are possible in the disclosed device without im- Each complete revolution of the Since pairing its basic purposes or the results obtained. One modification which is possible is shown in Fig. 7. In this modification a conventional torque motor T is provided to replace spring 93 and the automatic spring winding mechanism including shaft 94, gear trains 95 and 97, motor 96 and cams 98. The torque motor is connected to shaft 18 and is energized via conductors 24 to serve as an electrically loaded spring. The torque motor would operate in the same manner as spring 93 to rotate shaft 18 and pointer 17. The torque motor would have the advantage of not requiring rewinding since once it were energized it would always be ready to rotate as soon as the constraints imposed by the reset lever 34 and stop element 45 were removed.

Many other changes and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A register, useable in association with a typewriter adapted to transmit electrical pulses upon typing of characters therewith, comprising electrical circuits for transmitting said pulses, a plurality of relays, each of said relays being connected respectively to one of said circuits, each relay having a member movable in response to receipt of pulses by the relay, a plurality of levers, each lever being responsive to movement of one of the members, a plurality of arms disposed for movement by said levers, a continuously rotatable member disposed to pivot each of said arms on movement thereof by one of said levers, a plurality of thrust bars operatively connected to said arms for movement thereby, a rotatable wheel on a shaft, a plurality of stop pins, said pins being disposed radially around the entire periphery of the wheel and individually moveable by a thrust bar to determine the amount of allowable rotation of the wheel, said shaft rotatable with the wheel, a pointer on said shaft, and a stationary dial associated with the pointer.

2. A register according to claim 1, wherein said shaft is rotatable by spring means.

3. A register according to claim 2, wherein said spring means is provided with an automatic rewinding mechanism.

4. A register according to claim 1, wherein said shaft is rotatable by a torque motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 427,715 Travis May 13, 1890 614,492 McHugh Nov. 22, 1898 1,091,820 Ellis Mar. 31, 1914 1,829,233 Morss et a1 Oct. 27, 1931 1,907,234 Belash May 2, 1933 1,949,036 Buckwell Feb. 27, 1934 2,133,802 Bolongaro Oct. 18, 1938 

